Pakistani PM vows retaliation for India's 'grave mistake'
ALBAWABA- Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared on Wednesday that India had committed a "grave mistake" by launching deadly cross-border strikes — a move for which, he warned, India would now "pay the price."
Speaking after a night of escalating tensions, Sharif claimed that Pakistan's forces shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three French-made Rafales, in a major air clash.
'We will avenge every drop of blood spilled. Pakistan knows how to deliver a befitting reply. The entire nation salutes its brave armed forces,' he said in a fiery address.
On his part, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also weighed in, warning that 'the Indian government's actions threaten peace and stability in South Asia and could have serious consequences for the region.'
The statement came as the Pakistani military confirmed the death toll from Indian airstrikes and shelling along the contested border had risen to 31.
According to military spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Indian forces carried out strikes on nine positions in Pakistan-administered Kashmir overnight, resulting in dozens of casualties.
Chaudhry emphasized that Pakistan had both the right and the freedom to respond to the Indian aggression in a time and manner of its choosing. 'The people of Pakistan have demanded retribution, and we promise to fulfill it,' he said during a televised briefing.
Pakistan's Defense Minister, quoted by CNN, reaffirmed the claim that five Indian jets were downed in the clash.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Bawaba
7 days ago
- Al Bawaba
Over 200,000 Afghans fled Pakistan in 2 months
cALBAWABA - More than 200,000 Afghans have come out of Pakistan since the Islamabad government renewed a deportation plan last April, Pakistan's Interior Ministry revealed to AFP. The ministry detailed that over 135,000 people were sent out of Pakistan in April, while in May, about 67,000 Aghans left, in addition to over 3,000 others who were sent back in the first two days of June, the ministry added. Millions of Afghans came into Pakistan during the past several decades, as they escaped war. However, when the Taliban retook power in 2021, following the withdrawal of American troops, hundreds of thousands returned to Kabul. Despite that, over 1 million Afghans have left Islamabad since the repatriation program was launched in 2023, the ministry further noted.
Al Bawaba
01-06-2025
- Al Bawaba
School student beaten to death in front of his classmates
Published June 1st, 2025 - 08:54 GMT ALBAWABA - A 10-year-old school boy in Pakistan died after being severely beaten by the principal of his private school in North Kashmir, in the presence of his classmates. In detail, Khayalat Khan, a sixth-grade student, was repeatedly beaten with a rod all over his body for a simple mistake, leading to his later death in the hospital. The principal of the school was arrested immediately by the police in Pakistan, according to the Mirror, and a formal investigation was launched into the incident. Khyber District Police Officer Rai Mazhar Iqbal emphasized that violence against children is absolutely unacceptable, emphasizing that teachers must set an example and not exploit their position in such a brutal manner. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Al Bawaba
26-05-2025
- Al Bawaba
Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif visits Iran after Turkey trip
ALBAWABA- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Tehran on Monday, just a day after concluding his visit to Turkey, where he met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Also Read Indians call for Turkey tourism boycott amid India-Pakistan war He held a joint press conference in Tehran with Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, reinforcing Pakistan's commitment to regional peace and deepening Pakistan-Iran relations. President of Iran Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian and Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif giving joint press statement, after delegation level talks, at Sa'dabad Palace in Tehran.#PMShehbazInIran 🇵🇰🇮🇷 — Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) May 26, 2025 Describing Iran as his "second home," PM Shehbaz thanked Tehran for its support during the recent escalation between Pakistan and India. He reiterated Pakistan's backing of Iran's peaceful nuclear program and emphasized the countries' 'deep-rooted cultural and historical ties.' Both leaders pledged to enhance cooperation across various sectors. 'The decision to strengthen these relations through broader cooperation marks a new chapter in Pakistan-Iran ties,' Shehbaz said. He also acknowledged President Pezeshkian's diplomatic engagement during the South Asia tensions, praising Iran's concern for Pakistan's security. Touching on the conflict with India, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan's preference for peace but defended the country's right to respond decisively when provoked. 'Pakistan seeks peace and wants a resolution of all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, in line with UN resolutions,' he noted. President Pezeshkian welcomed the recent Pakistan-India ceasefire and urged both nations to continue dialogue. He also condemned Israeli actions in Gaza and criticized Western silence, calling it 'morally indefensible.' Also Read Iran won't stop uranium enrichment to reach agreement with US As members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), both Iran and Pakistan, he said, are united in denouncing the atrocities in Gaza. The Prime Minister's visit to Iran and Turkey follows heightened tensions with India, including the downing of five Indian fighter jets by Pakistan and retaliatory strikes after cross-border escalations. His diplomatic tour is seen as an effort to consolidate regional alliances amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
